Phonograph or other sound producer or reproducer



March 18", 1924: 1,487,299

I. J. VETTER PHONOGRAPH OR OTHER SOUND PRODUCER OR REPRODUCER Filed May 29. 1922 Patented Mar. 18, 1924.

UNITED STATES IGHATI'US J. VETTER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PHOHOGWH OR OTHER SOUND PRODUCER 0R REPRODUCER.

- Application lied lay 29,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IGNATIUS J. Vn'r'rnn, a citizen of the United States, residin at New York cit in the county of New ork and State 0 New York, have invented new Phonograph or Other Sound Producers or Reproducers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in phonographs; and the objects of my improvements are; first, to provide a horn that will vibrate to the slightest tone; second, to carry the vibrations of the horn into, or pla them upon a suitable resonator or ampli er operating to modify or improve the tone quality as well as increase the volume of sound and consisting preferably of a hollow casing like the body of a violin or similar musical instrument; and, third, providing a cabinet in which the sound emanates evenly from all sides eliminating the harsh effect of the horn.

I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of that part of the phonograph relating to my invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical bisectional view, also showing the relative position of the motor M, turn-table, T, and tone-arm, L. to my 1nvention:

Figure 3 is a detailed view in perspective of the horn D, showing its inner construction:

Figure 4 is a view in perspective of one of the instruments, I:

Figure 5 is a perspective view of one of the vibration carriers, referred to hereinafter as (carriers) H.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throu bout the several views.

In igure 2, the table A, with its standards or legs, B of which there are four, and the bottom C, constitute the frame-work of the phonograph.

The outer walls of the horn 1), Figure 3, may bemade of any vibrant material. 1

refer to use seasoned spruce for the walls.

he vibrating rack E, inside of the horn. I prefer to make of seasoned spruce hoards f, superposed and running parallel to the sides 11, n of born but spaced apart. The sounding boards of the bank or rack are held together and spaced by dowels or posts d, which ass through and are glued to the boards. These posts or dowels extend be- 1922. Serial No. 564,645.

yond the boards and engage or press against the sides n, n of the horn. These boards do not come in direct contact with the horn at any point, thus permitting them to vibrate to the slightest tone. The sound posts or dowels d, carry the vibrations to the sides 12, n, of the horn so that the vibrations of the sound boards will reinforce the vibrations of the sides of the born by acting in acoustic synchronism with them. The number of these boards may be varied at will. In general the number depends upon the size and construction of the horn. The bank of sounding boards may be supported and held in position in the horn by the posts 11 or any suitable means.

The sides or walls 11, n, of the horn may be perforated at intervals with holes or openings k. These holes may be of different sizes, small at the upper end and larger at the lower end. permitting some of the sound to pass through eliminating any harshness of tone. They may be located irregularly.

The born I), is bolted to table A, as shown in Figure 2, directly under tone-arm opening u, permitting it to hang and vibrate like a bell.

In Figure 1, and Figure 2, I), 7), b, b, are

hars or cleats passing across and extending beyond sides n, n of the born. The ends of the cleats ar bored through permitting bolts or rods e, e, e. e, to pass through. The cleats are fastened to, and touch only at the corners of, the born, the center being cut away so as not to interfere with the vibrations of the walls of the horn.

The instrument I. Figure 4, of which one or more may be used is hollow and is intended to act as a resonator reinforcer or moditier of the sounds. Its face 111-. may he made of seasoned spruce. and is provided preferably with openings or holes. as in instruments of the violin type. Posts i, i which are glued to top and bottom of instrument, serve to hold it in place.

I prefer to use two of these resonator instruments placed in position as shown in Figure 2: p, p are the soundposts inside [I of the instruments of which one or more may be used. These posts serve to brave the fare of the instrument to resistpressure. (leats r). o. 0. 0 are fastened on the hack of the inst ruinenls I. and are substantially the same as cleats l on born I). Bolts e. e, e, c. Fig. 2. pass through cleats 7),1). Ii, I). on horn and through cleats o, o, o, 0, on resonator llU instrumei'its I. Tightening nuts or thumbscrews 1-. r, r. 1-. are placed at the ends of these bolts 1'. c. e. e.

The board J, in Figure 2, serves as a base for the instruments I engaged therewith by posts '1', 1'. and also prevents any reflection of sound. This board passes around horn leaving an air space on all sides so as not to interfere with the vibrations, the horn being fastened to it only at its corners to prevent it from shifting.

The carrier H. Figure 5. may be made of any vibrant material. I prefer to use a bank of spruce boards .21, running parallel to each other. and held together in spaced relation by dowels or posts a, 1 t, which pass through. and are glued to the boards: any number of these boards may be used. The sound posts or dowels s, a. s. s, at both ends of th carriers extend beyond the boards on one side and the sound posts or dowels t, I, extend beyond the boards on opposite side as shown.

In Figure 2, two of these carriers are used, placed in position as shown between the walls of the horn and the resonators or amplifiers I. The posts or dowels a, a, a. a, being placed against the horn those at the upper end are longer than thoseat the lower end. so as to conform with the angle of the horn. and keep the carriers in an upright position. and the posts or dowels f, f. are placed against the resonator instruments preferably against the face thereof. the whole acting as a bridge.

By tightening th thumbscrews. 737. r, 1', a tension is put on the carriers and on the sides of the horn and the posts (I of the rack within the horn and the sound vibrations are carried into. or play upon the resonator or amplitier instruments I.

As will be seen, the vibrations of the sides of the horn due to the air viln'ations within the same. ar carried into the bank II and there amplified by the sound board or boards con'iposing the same, whence they are conveyed to the resonators I by means of the dowels or posts a, 3 i, and by the resonators are still further amplified or modified to produce a louder and improved effect. Also, and as will be fully apparent from the construction. further amplifi *ation of the sound will result from the fact that the sound vibrations, of the sound board or rack E be.- ing communicated directly to the side of the horn through the vibrational or acoustic connection therewith. will reinforce the vibrations of the horn itself by acting in acoustic synchronism therewith and the reinforced vibrations thus set up will be trans l'erred into the bank or boards comprising the carrier and sound board H wherein they are further reinforced and amplified and conveyed to th resonators. The resultant etlcct is a very great amplitude or volume of sound reproduction due to the combined acoustic etfect of all the parts placed in sound vibrational or acoustic relation to one another by the construction described.

This ellcct may be produced by building the instrumentsinto, or as part of the cabinet and getting a tension on the carriers by a screw device on the dowels f, of the carriers. but I prefer to carry out this ell'cct as shown in the drawing in which. the born, the resonators and the carriers are all independent parts and can easily be replaced if necessary.

In Figure 2. l, is a pyramid. having a square base. This pyramid conforms to the shape of the mouth of the horn and extends partially within the same and serves to spread the sound evenly on all sides. It also series as a damper. This pyramid is not fastened to the bottom. but is independent and may be so constructed that by any suitable device it can be raised so as to partially or entirely close the horn. moderating the volume of sound.

When the horn i entirely closed at the bottom the tone is softened, but. the sound vibrations playing upon the instruments prevent any stilling ctl'ect.

All sides of the cabinet or casing of the instrument may consist of cut out panels of any design. backed up with silk or any light weight fabric that will permit the sound to pass through. These panels may be placed in separate frames so thatthey can easily be removed.

The use of a plurality of resonators of different size or natural ltliltftll'tingr effect and all responsive to the vibrations received from the record through the tone arm by the means described or any other suitable means is not herein claimed as it forms the subject of claims in an application for patent tiled by me January :28. 1924. as a division of the present application. Xor do I claim herein the use of the rack oi sound boards I) within the enclosure into which the tone arm delivers the sounds directly and as used for superadding vibrations to and reinforcing the etl'ccts of the intcrmcdiate rack H upon th resonator inasmuch as this is broadly claimed, together with the constructions whereby the reinforcing action is effected, in said divisional application.

I do not claim anything new in the rcprodnction of records. and. I am aware that prior to my invention. phonographs have been made. combining motor. turn-table. reproducer, tone-arm and horn. in a cabinet: I therefore. do not claim such a combination broadly, but

I claim: I 1. In a sound reproducer. the combination with a horn. of sound boards provided with sound posts and a resonator vibrationally tit) connected with the horn by said sound posts engaging the horn and the resonator respectively.

2. In a sound reproducer, the combination with a horn and a resonator, of a sound carrier comprisin boards of vibrant. material superposed an separated from one another but in solid vibrational connection with one another and sound transferring posts extending therefrom into vibrational engagement respectively with the side of the horn and the side of the resonator.

3. In a sound reproducing instrument, the combination of ahorn', a resonator, an inter: mediate vibrational carrier comprising a bank of boards provided with sound posts between the resonator and horn and means connecting the horn and resonator for placing tension on the carrier.

4. In a sound reproducing instrument, the comhination of a horn, a resonator, an intermediate vibrational carrier having posts engaging'respectively the side wall of the horn an a face of the resonator, cleats on the horn and resonator and means for drawing the cleats together to tension on the carrier.

5. In a sound reproducing instrument, the combination. of a horn, a resonator, a vibrational carrier interposed between them for transferring the vibrations of a side wall of the horn to a face of the resonator, crossbars or cleats passing across the horn and the resonator respectively and touching the same only at the corners and means for drawing the cleats together to put tension on the carrier.

6. In a sound reproducinginstrument, the combination of a horn, a resonator, a vibrational carrier interposed between them for transferring the vibrations of a side wall of the born to a face of the resonator, crossbars or cleats passing across the horn and the resonator respectively and touching the same only at the corners, rods or bolts passing through said bars and tightening means applied to said bars to draw the horn and the intermediate carrier.

resonator against from,

7. In a sound reproducing instrument, the combination of a horn, a resonator, and an intermediate carrier consisting of a bank of sound boards held-together in spaced relation by suitable sound posts and having posts extending into engagement with a side wall of the horn and into engagement with a face of the resonator.

8. In a sound reproducing instrument, the combination with a horn and a resonator, of an intermediate bank of sound boards held together and spaced apart by posts and having posts near its edge and at or near its center engaging respectively a side wall of the horn and a face of the resonator.

9. In a sound reproducing instrument, the combination of a horn,'a resonator and an intermediate vibration rack consisting of a series of sound boards spaced apart and having means whereby the are vibrationally engaged with a side of the horn and a side of the resonator.

10. In a sound reproducing instrument, the combination of a horn, a resonator and an intermediate sound board having sound transferring posts engaged respectively with a side of the horn and a side of the resonator,

11.'In a sound reproducing instrument, the combination of a horn, a sound box or resonator held in place by posts projecting from its ends parallel w1th its face and a sound board havin osts vibrationally connecting the side 0 t e horn with a face of the sound box.

12. In a sound reproducing instrument, the combination of a horn, a resonator box, a vibrational carrier consisting of a bank of sound boards and posts projectin theresaid carrier being interposed tween and engaging a wall of the box and a side of the horn and means for securing tension on said vibrational carrier connecting the horn and box.

IGNATIUS J. VETTER.

Witnesses:

. WM. VON BU'EHREN,

ANTHONY E. SMIDLEIN. 

